Cub Pack Service Projects

On Sunday September 26, 2021 the Lower Mainland Green Team celebrated BC and World Rivers Day with the City of Burnaby at Ron McLean Park! This activity was the second of two activities being run this weekend at this location.

Read about the activity that happened the day before.

Despite a forecast of 100% rain, community members of all ages came prepared to tackle invasive English ivy and Himalayan blackberry and were met with only 15 minutes of rain and temperatures not too hot or cold. However rain gear was welcomed as everyone soon learned how easy it is to get carried away and covered in mud! In joining this activity, participants were able to connect to nature and each other, which has benefits for our health and the health of the environment. By building on the hard work of participants who attended our activity at this site the day before, it was evident that together we can make a difference towards anything we set our minds to. Our efforts at this location are intended to build on those of the awesome local Byrne Creek Streamkeepers!

This activity followed the COVID-19 Safety Plan of our charity, Green Teams of Canada, and current province-wide restrictions with safety measures in place to ensure participants could connect with each other and nature safely.

The very first BC Rivers Day was celebrated in 1980 and has been an annual celebration of our waterways on the 4th Sunday of September ever since. Started by Burnaby local and internationally renowned river conservationist, Mark Angelo, this celebration hit the international stage as World Rivers Day in 2005. 

Our waterways and freshwater ecosystems are extremely important, yet are among the most at risk ecosystems on the planet. Threatened by urbanization, pollution, industrial development, invasive species, damming, excessive water extraction and climate change, now more than ever we need to raise awareness about the importance of our waterways and take action to protect them.

Rivers have been a part of all of our lives in one way or another, whether it be through recreation such as kayaking, canoeing or rafting, or a source of food and water. It is up to each and every one of us to do our part to support our rivers and there are many ways you can do so:

• Learn about your local river, the wildlife and plants that live in or around it, its history and how it benefits your community. The first step to taking care of our rivers is understanding why we need to take care of them!

• Don’t litter and clean up items that do not belong in our waterways or parks, even if you weren’t the one who left it.

• Reduce pollution and unwanted substances from entering our waterways or going down stormwater drains, which ultimately lead to our rivers. This includes chemicals and soaps such as those used to wash your car or toilet. Opt for products that are natural whenever possible!

• Avoid the spread of aquatic invasive species by cleaning, draining and drying all boats and equipment.

• Join a local stewardship or streamkeeper group like us, the Byrne Creek Streamkeepers (who steward the Byrne Creek and Ron McLean Park area we were at for this activity) or other Burnaby Waterways & Streamkeeper Groups! These groups need your help and are very rewarding to be a part of!